There are a few reasons why you might desire to download and install old versions of macOS or Mac OS X. Mayhap you are relying on software you take discovered doesn't work properly in the latest version. Or mayhap yous merely don't like the new version of macOS that you have installed.

Another scenario is that you lot are a developer and you lot need to be running multiple versions of macOS and Mac OS 10 then that y'all can exist sure that your software runs correctly on them. Either way, you lot have questions and nosotros take answers.

In this commodity we volition encompass how to become old versions of macOS including Big Sur, Catalina, Mojave, El Capitan, Sierra, Yosemite and even erstwhile versions of Mac OS X. We explain how to get agree of the relevant installer files and so that you tin can install the software on your Mac.

We have a separate article that explains how to install old versions of macOS for when you get to that stage of the procedure.

If y'all are looking for a way to revert to the previous version of macOS, nosotros have a more than specific commodity most downgrading from Monterey to Large Sur and other versions, although nosotros exercise comprehend the method here as well. We also take a guide to downgrading from the macOS beta.

However, if you were hoping to run older versions of macOS on M1 Macs that's not possible.

You as well might want to get the installer for a version of macOS in order to make a bootable installer for installing macOS on multiple Macs (we likewise look at that scenario separately).

Where can I download onetime macOS?

Earlier you can install an older version of macOS or Mac OS Ten you will demand to get hold of the installer for the version of macOS you want to install. Luckily it is possible to gets agree of these files - as long every bit you know where to go along the Mac App Shop.

We have the necessary links to the Mac App Store below. We will testify you a way to get the post-obit macOS installers:

  • macOS Big Sur
  • macOS Catalina
  • macOS Mojave
  • macOS Loftier Sierra
  • macOS Sierra
  • Os 10 El Capitan
  • Bone X Yosemite
  • OS X Mavericks
  • OS X Mount Lion
  • Bone X Lion

*Note that we have discovered that the links we requite beneath will only piece of work if you lot are surfing in Safari, so nosotros suggest y'all switch to Apple tree's browser before moving on. You should also close the Mac App Store app if you lot accept that open up or the link may not work*

Yous won't be able to go the Mac Os X Snowfall Leopard download this way, but we'll wait at that subsequently. In fact, we tell you how to get copies of Leopard, Lion and Mountain King of beasts too!

Nosotros have a listing of which Macs run which versions of macOS & Mac Os X.

How to download macOS Big Sur

You can download the installer for Large Sur from the Mac App Store - as long every bit you know where to find information technology - searching the Mac App Store volition not work.

  • Click on this link which to open the Mac App Store on the Large Sur page. (Use Safari and brand sure the Mac App Store app is airtight offset or it might non work).

Follow these steps to download Big Sur (or any other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Store on the Big Sur folio.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a bulletin "Are you sure you lot desire to download macOS Big Sur" will appear. It might look like an update rather than the full version, merely you'll see from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the consummate installer for Big Sur.
  4. Once the installer has downloaded do not click Install. If you install it the installer will automatically be deleted.
  5. Yous should be able to find the Install macOS Big Sur app in your Applications folder, you'll need this for the side by side steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Catalina

Y'all tin can also download the installer for Catalina from the Mac App Store - equally long equally you lot know the magic link.

  • Click on this link which volition open the Mac App Store on the Catalina page. (Use Safari and brand certain the Mac App Shop app is closed get-go).

Catalina Mac App Store

As to a higher place, follow these steps to download Catalina (or whatever other version of macOS) from the Mac App Shop:

  1. Click this link to open the Mac App Shop on the Catalina page.
  2. Click on Get.
  3. Software Update will open with the words "Finding Update". Eventually a message "Are you sure you want to download macOS Catalina" will announced. Information technology might look similar an update rather than the full version, merely you'll come across from the size of the download (around 6GB) that this is the complete installer for Catalina. Download Catalina
  4. One time the installer has downloaded do non click Install. If you install it the installer volition automatically be deleted.
  5. Yous should be able to discover the Install macOS Catalina app in your Applications folder, yous'll need this for the next steps, which we outline here: How to downgrade macOS, install an older version on your Mac.

How to download macOS Mojave

It is likewise possible to access the Mojave installer via this link to the Mac App Store. Note that every bit above, for this link to work you need to be running Safari and you need to close the Mac App Store app first. If the Mac App Store app is open this redirect will not work.

  • Click on this link to open up the Mac App Store on the Mojave page.

Follow the steps in the section higher up to download information technology.

Download Mojave

How to download Loftier Sierra

It is also possible to download High Sierra via this link. (Use Safari, close the Mac App Store app first).

Follow the steps in the section to a higher place to download High Sierra.

How to download Sierra, El Capitan or Yosemite

Apple provides dmg files of these older macOS versions - y'all need to download them in Safari. A disk paradigm named InstallOS.dmg will download and once it does y'all demand to locate the pkg installer inside the deejay prototype.

That Mac App Store link isn't working for me!

Nosotros've said higher up that in our feel usually the reason the higher up links don't work is if you are browsing in something other than Safari, or if yous have already got the Mac App Store open up. However, if you lot are however finding that the link isn't working you could attempt the alternative methods below.

Some other result is if the link takes you to the correct page in the Mac App Store, just y'all see an Update not found mistake message when y'all effort to download information technology. This is an consequence we are aware of that others have encountered, although we haven't. In that case we propose you try to download the installer via that link using an older Mac.

You may likewise meet bug if you lot are trying to download an older version of macOS that your Mac cannot support. Usually when Apple tree introduces a new Mac information technology will not exist able to run the version of macOS that shipped earlier the one installed on that Mac. The older macOS might not back up sure components in that Mac, for case.

Notice out more than about what version of macOS your Mac supports here: What version of macOS can my Mac run?

Other ways to become old macOS versions

If you are running an older version of macOS - or someone you know is - you should be able to easily find older versions of macOS and even Mac OS X in the Mac App Store. How easy they are to find will be determined past the version of macOS running on that Mac.

Prior to macOS Mojave'southward arrival in 2018 the installers for the older macOS versions could be searched for or institute via the Purchased tab (not that anyone has had to pay for a Mac Bone X update for years).

Notwithstanding, when Apple introduced Mojave the Mac App Store changed, and these installers tin no longer be searched for or found in the purchased section of the store. (Although we do have redirect links in the section to a higher place to each of the relevant pages on the Mac App Shop.)

If yous happen to have access to a Mac that'south running an older version of macOS, log into the Mac App Shop with your password and download the Mojave installer on that Mac. Alternatively enquire a friend to download a copy of the installer from the Mac App Shop for you lot. We run through this method in the section beneath.

Every bit in a higher place, once the installer has downloaded don't install information technology! If you do and then the installer will be deleted. You lot'll find the installer in your Applications folder from which you can copy on to your Mac - or create a bootable installer.

We've heard that it may be possible to download the installer via Terminal, however we were unable to get that method to work.

You may also find updates to old version of macOS on Apple tree's website here, withal these are just point updates, rather than the total version, so it won't be much aid if y'all are trying to get the full download.

The one thing you really mustn't do is get to a torrent site and download a copy of the Os Ten yous want. Merely because Apple gives abroad its software for gratis, don't think information technology'south fine to just choice up a copy. Pirated copies of Apple tree software could have been adjusted to let hackers access to the software and your Mac.

Download Mac OS X

If you have admission to a Mac running OS X Yosemite or older it is possible to meet old versions of Mac Bone 10 in the Mac App Shop. Yosemite, Mavericks and Mountain Lion tin all be seen here.

It's worth noting that yous'll only see old versions of Mac Os 10 that y'all've downloaded under Purchased - if y'all never downloaded it (or if it was never on the Mac App Store), that version will not be in your Purchased section. Another reason why the version of Mac Os X might be missing is if your machine shipped with that version installed. We'll look at that scenario later.

Here is how to get an older version of Mac Bone X from the Mac App Store (this just works if you lot've downloaded information technology in the past and it won't piece of work if you have already installed Mojave or later):

  1. Open up the Mac App Shop (cull Store > Sign In if you need to log in).
  2. Click Purchased.
  3. Whorl downwardly to detect the copy of OS X or macOS you want.
  4. Click Install.

Clicking Install won't actually install the software, merely it will download the installer application to your Applications folder.

You won't be able to simply install this older version of the operating organization directly onto a Mac running a newer version of OS Ten or macOS. We will explain how it tin exist installed on a Mac - including 1 currently running an earlier operating system here: How to install quondam Mac OS X versions.

Tin can't find Mac Bone X in Purchased?

If you know you lot accept previously downloaded the version of macOS you are after, just you lot aren't seeing information technology in the Purchased section, at that place are a few things to endeavor:

  1. Log out of the App Store so log in again.
  2. If it's a possibility that you lot downloaded it while logged in to a different Apple tree ID (perhaps a work-related ane), log in using that ID.
  3. Alternatively, find someone who has downloaded that version of the Mac operating system and ask them to download the installation file for you.

If you lot never downloaded the version of Mac OS X and so jump to step 3 and find a friendly person who did. Ask them to download the Mac OS X installer for y'all.

Luckily the re-create of Bone X isn't locked to their account so it will install on whatsoever Mac.

How to get OS Ten King of beasts, Mountain Lion

Prior to June 2021 you could purchase OS X ten.7 King of beasts or Mountain Lion from Apple for £19.99 each - Apple tree would send you a download lawmaking. At present Apple has stopped charging for the ageing operating system versions. Instead you can download the operating systems directly from the company's website.

The operating systems tin can exist downloaded from the following links:

If it'southward Mac OS X 10.7 Lion that you are after, it's even so bachelor for £xix.99 hither Usa or here United kingdom. Apple volition send you lot a download code to utilize on the Mac App Store, so you will need to exist running Snow Leopard to install it.

If it's Bone X 10.8 Mountain Lion that y'all can still buy it for £19.99 here U.s. or here UK.

We accept more data about getting the free installers for OS X Lion and Mountain Lion from Apple in Apple offers free downloads of Os X Lion and Mountain Panthera leo.

Whether your Mac will actually run these operating systems is another question we address hither: Which versions of macOS tin my Mac run? Notation that only Macs that predate 2012 will run Panthera leo.

How to become Bone X Snow Leopard

If your Mac has a version of macOS installed that is older than Snow Leopard you won't take access to the Mac App Store. Since for a number of years after Snowfall Leopard arrived all versions of Mac Bone 10 arrived via the Mac App Store, those who never installed Snow Leopard had a problem: without Snowfall Leopard they couldn't update.

Until 2021 Apple still sold a boxed version of Mac Os X x.6 Snowfall Leopard here for £19.99 (at its launch in 2009 it cost £25). If yous purchased Snow Leopard this way yous were sent a physical box containing an optical disc - so you will need a CD/DVD drive to install it (which you will probably have if the Mac is that old).

Apple has now removed the ability to buy Snowfall Leopard. However, this isn't a big problem considering those people who were previously locked out of updates can now download the Panthera leo or Mount King of beasts update, as explained in a higher place.

Get Snow Leopard

How to become OS Ten Leopard or earlier

If the old version of the Os you are after predates Snow Leopard and you take a developer account y'all might be able to get it from programmer.apple.com/downloads. If you search within the OS Ten category you should see downloads for all versions of OS Ten, at to the lowest degree from version 10.3 to 10.half-dozen.

You may be able to admission the Developer department of the website, only you volition only be able to access certain software downloads if your Apple ID is associated with a paid Apple Developer Program.

If y'all haven't signed up as a Apple Developer, find out what that entails here. It costs £79 ($99) a year to join the Apple Developer Plan and you have to sign a non disclosure agreement.

You could also attempt looking on Amazon or eBay to see if anyone is selling old versions of the Mac operating organization. For example there's a Full Install of OS Ten King of beasts available for £8.l on Amazon here.

If it's Tiger y'all are after, and then it will cost a little more. There was a copy of Tiger on Amazon for £89.99 merely it's currently unavailable.

How to download Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Snow Leopard and older Mac software